Courtney Parenteau
Westerly Middle School
CT: Erica Reid
Observation/Reflection #2: Eyes in the Back of Your Head: Observing Student Actions
From a seat in the rear of the room, observe your students and take notes on what they are doing while the teacher is presenting in the front of the room, while they are supposed to be taking notes, doing seatwork, and/or when they are working in the lab. Look closely at each student for a range of behaviors, and resist the temptation on only see what you expect. Note especially what is happening furthest from the teacher.
What strategies are used by your CT to encourage students to attend and engage? Watch carefully how your CT moves around the room. Draw a map of the classroom and sketch a path showing (approximately) this movement.
How important is student engagement to your view of how you will teach? What strategies will you employ to encourage student engagement? How will use your proximity to provide feedback and manage student behavior?
Observations: While Mrs. Reid is presenting the content most of the students are engaging in the discussion while some are distracted by things on their desks. To engage students during the whole group discussion, Mrs. Reid asks intriguing questions and she is constantly moving around the room. The students that are not engaged in the discussion are located on the extreme sides of the classroom. While the class is doing group work, all of the students are engaged in the activity. During group work, Mrs. Reid walks around the room to each group and helps where needed. Below is a map of the classroom, the red lines/arrows indicate Mrs. Reid's movement around the room.
Reflection:
It seems as though her movement around the room keeps the students on task. The students on the extreme sides of the classroom get distracted because Mrs. Reid cannot get to that side of the room easily. Each lab table has a box of supplies that the class commonly uses. Unfortunately, the box of supplies becomes a distraction when the students lose interest in the class. Perhaps the boxes should only be on the desks when they are in use. The students are engaged in group work because it is a change of pace and they are allowed to talk to their peers. Mrs. Reid also walks around the room which helps the students stay on task. Engaging students in the classroom is crucial. Not only does it facilitate learning, but it makes it more enjoyable. In my classroom, I will engage students by having several hooks that spark their interest. I also intend on having many hands on activities to keep the students active. It is also important for the teacher to move around the classroom to keep the students on task. My classroom will always be arranged in such a way to make that possible.
Westerly Middle School
CT: Erica Reid
Observation/Reflection #2: Eyes in the Back of Your Head: Observing Student Actions
From a seat in the rear of the room, observe your students and take notes on what they are doing while the teacher is presenting in the front of the room, while they are supposed to be taking notes, doing seatwork, and/or when they are working in the lab. Look closely at each student for a range of behaviors, and resist the temptation on only see what you expect. Note especially what is happening furthest from the teacher.
What strategies are used by your CT to encourage students to attend and engage? Watch carefully how your CT moves around the room. Draw a map of the classroom and sketch a path showing (approximately) this movement.
How important is student engagement to your view of how you will teach? What strategies will you employ to encourage student engagement? How will use your proximity to provide feedback and manage student behavior?
Observations:
While Mrs. Reid is presenting the content most of the students are engaging in the discussion while some are distracted by things on their desks. To engage students during the whole group discussion, Mrs. Reid asks intriguing questions and she is constantly moving around the room. The students that are not engaged in the discussion are located on the extreme sides of the classroom. While the class is doing group work, all of the students are engaged in the activity. During group work, Mrs. Reid walks around the room to each group and helps where needed. Below is a map of the classroom, the red lines/arrows indicate Mrs. Reid's movement around the room.
Reflection:
It seems as though her movement around the room keeps the students on task. The students on the extreme sides of the classroom get distracted because Mrs. Reid cannot get to that side of the room easily. Each lab table has a box of supplies that the class commonly uses. Unfortunately, the box of supplies becomes a distraction when the students lose interest in the class. Perhaps the boxes should only be on the desks when they are in use. The students are engaged in group work because it is a change of pace and they are allowed to talk to their peers. Mrs. Reid also walks around the room which helps the students stay on task. Engaging students in the classroom is crucial. Not only does it facilitate learning, but it makes it more enjoyable. In my classroom, I will engage students by having several hooks that spark their interest. I also intend on having many hands on activities to keep the students active. It is also important for the teacher to move around the classroom to keep the students on task. My classroom will always be arranged in such a way to make that possible.